Remember the old Godzilla movies where every monster would show up and either fight with or against Godzilla? This western has the same idea. In this movie, Pat Garrett, Buffalo Bill, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp go up against Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Was Wild Bill Hickcock and Doc Holliday busy that day? Standard Western except that the humor is strangely lacking in this movie. Malcom Atterbury as Buffalo Bill is supposed to be the comic sidekick but he doesn't provide a whole lot of laughs. I am most likely reading way too much into this but when George Montgomery's Pat Garrett is giving his big speech to the town leaders about how it is their duty to stop Butch Cassidy because he will eventually destroy their town, I kept thinking about the arguments used for the Vietnam buildup, which happened a few years after this movie was made. I doubt director Fred Sears planned the similarity but if he did it was very subtle and clever. Hard to believe that Russell Johnson (the Professor on Gilligan's Island!) was the ruthless Sundance Kid. Fans of B-westerns should enjoy this movie.
10 Reviews
Abilene Agony.
hitchcockthelegend6 April 2014
It's a veritable feast of Wild West heroes and villains, a fanciful tale where the likes of Pat Garrett, Wyatt Earp and Buffalo Bill Cody convene in a sprouting Abilene to do battle with the scuzzy likes of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The locals are restless, though, because the presence of the tough lawmen makes them uneasy, they fear that town will soon be over run with blood
Directed by Fred F. Sears and starring George Montgomery, Neville Brand, Buster Crabbe and Karin Booth, it's a compact Oater that spends a good portion of the film introducing the key players, which inevitably sets up the finale. Which thankfully is well worth the wait as it features a mother of a shoot-out, splendidly played out amongst burning barricades and bullets galore. A black and white production that clocks in at a brisk running time of an hour and ten minutes, it is a pic that never has chance to outstay its welcome, whilst being in the company of Brand and Montgomery is enjoyable for the duration. Not essential viewing for Western buffs, but a fun time assured regardless. 6.5/10
Directed by Fred F. Sears and starring George Montgomery, Neville Brand, Buster Crabbe and Karin Booth, it's a compact Oater that spends a good portion of the film introducing the key players, which inevitably sets up the finale. Which thankfully is well worth the wait as it features a mother of a shoot-out, splendidly played out amongst burning barricades and bullets galore. A black and white production that clocks in at a brisk running time of an hour and ten minutes, it is a pic that never has chance to outstay its welcome, whilst being in the company of Brand and Montgomery is enjoyable for the duration. Not essential viewing for Western buffs, but a fun time assured regardless. 6.5/10
Fantasy about some of the west's greatest heroes going up against the worst outlaw band ever.
dougbrode13 March 2006
Talk about wish fulfillment! Badman's Country appeared on screen at just about the time when B westerns were disappearing owing to TV, which had already lionized Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brian) and Bat Masterson (Alan Dinehart and, later, Gene Barry) and would shortly do so for Pat Garrett (Barry Sullivan). Here, all three (played by different performers, of course) are collected together (along with an aging Buffalo Bill, who apparently deserted his Wild West show to join in this gunfight) to find Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and The Wild Bunch. The simple fact that none of this is in any way historical (other than the characters' names) hardly dims the modest fun of a solid B western with a grand slam shoot-out finale. Incidentally, Neville Brand, who plays Butch here, also did the role as the lead in The Three Outlaws, which I'll bet you anything William Goldman saw before he wrote his famous 1969 movie on the subject! Buster Crabbe, in one of his final roles, makes for an intriguing Wyatt Earp. This might be considered something of an apotheosis of all the B western scenarios coming together for the low-budget predecessor to How the West Was Won. Great fun, of a certain sort, and never a dull moment.
"You know somethin', I'm beginning to feel like a human being once again".
classicsoncall20 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Historical inaccuracies aside, this is a fun Western bringing together some of the big names of the Old West for a classic knock down, drag out showdown at the finale. The only thing missing was the OK Corral.
The setting is Abilene, Kansas. Lawman Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) has retired his tin star back in Lincoln County, and has come to Kansas to claim Lorna Pardee (Karin Booth) for his wife and head for California. His presence in town might disrupt Butch Cassidy's plans to rob a half million dollar payload coming in on a local train ahead of the next cattle drive. Having already taken down and arrested Sundance Harry Langabaugh (Russell Johnson), Harvey Logan (Richard Devon) and Blackjack Ketchum (Fred Graham), Garrett sends for Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe) and Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) to collect the outlaws and move them to Dodge City for trial.
What follows is a classic treatment of an underlying subtext found in many Western films - the ideological battle between appeasement and standing up to fight for one's rights and property. Abilene's Mayor Coleman (Morris Ankrum) denounces the lawmen, and goes so far as to free the jailed outlaws and give away the plan to lure Cassidy's bunch into town. The bad guys never make it out of town, as the rest of the town leaders come to their senses and side with the visiting Marshals. That's when Wyatt Earp uttered the line in my summary above. All that was left at this point was the staging of the grand finale.
I had to shake my head though while tracking the battle when the Hole in the Wall bunch rode into town. Butch (Neville Brand) had about fifteen riders with him when he came into Abilene, and once the guns started firing, his men were being picked off fairly handily. Yet when they began to retreat and got stopped at the fiery blockade, there were still about the same number of riders. Amazing.
Oh yeah, there was one more historical figure on hand, with Malcolm Atterbury portraying Buffalo Bill Cody. During the shootout against the bad guys, Cody had the best line of the picture - "Sure wish they were buffalo, can't make a rug out of an outlaw"!
The setting is Abilene, Kansas. Lawman Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) has retired his tin star back in Lincoln County, and has come to Kansas to claim Lorna Pardee (Karin Booth) for his wife and head for California. His presence in town might disrupt Butch Cassidy's plans to rob a half million dollar payload coming in on a local train ahead of the next cattle drive. Having already taken down and arrested Sundance Harry Langabaugh (Russell Johnson), Harvey Logan (Richard Devon) and Blackjack Ketchum (Fred Graham), Garrett sends for Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe) and Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) to collect the outlaws and move them to Dodge City for trial.
What follows is a classic treatment of an underlying subtext found in many Western films - the ideological battle between appeasement and standing up to fight for one's rights and property. Abilene's Mayor Coleman (Morris Ankrum) denounces the lawmen, and goes so far as to free the jailed outlaws and give away the plan to lure Cassidy's bunch into town. The bad guys never make it out of town, as the rest of the town leaders come to their senses and side with the visiting Marshals. That's when Wyatt Earp uttered the line in my summary above. All that was left at this point was the staging of the grand finale.
I had to shake my head though while tracking the battle when the Hole in the Wall bunch rode into town. Butch (Neville Brand) had about fifteen riders with him when he came into Abilene, and once the guns started firing, his men were being picked off fairly handily. Yet when they began to retreat and got stopped at the fiery blockade, there were still about the same number of riders. Amazing.
Oh yeah, there was one more historical figure on hand, with Malcolm Atterbury portraying Buffalo Bill Cody. During the shootout against the bad guys, Cody had the best line of the picture - "Sure wish they were buffalo, can't make a rug out of an outlaw"!
Good fun!!
coltras356 April 2023
Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) arrives in Abilene where he catches five of Butch Cassidy's gang. He calls in Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe) and Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) and they learn there is a half million dollar shipment of money arriving by train and Cassidy (Neville Brand) is amassing enough men to take it.
George Montgomery as Pat Garrett heads a good cast including Buster Crabbe as Wyatt Earp and manages to stop a raid by Butch Cassidy and co., but not before there's plenty of trouble - most of the trouble comes from Morris Ankrum as the meddling Mayor who throws spanner in the works for Garrett and his crew in stopping the raid. It makes for good drama - the plot is fast moving and flows with not a dull moment. It's an entertaining B which leads to an energetic bout of gun play. There's some good dialogue, too. Karin Booth adds some much needed glamour amidst the gunsmoke.
George Montgomery as Pat Garrett heads a good cast including Buster Crabbe as Wyatt Earp and manages to stop a raid by Butch Cassidy and co., but not before there's plenty of trouble - most of the trouble comes from Morris Ankrum as the meddling Mayor who throws spanner in the works for Garrett and his crew in stopping the raid. It makes for good drama - the plot is fast moving and flows with not a dull moment. It's an entertaining B which leads to an energetic bout of gun play. There's some good dialogue, too. Karin Booth adds some much needed glamour amidst the gunsmoke.
Run-of-the-mill, second-rate western
frankfob9 January 2012
Routine, by-the-numbers western about Pat Garrett, Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill and Bat Masterson joining forces--which, in reality, never happened--to fight off Butch Cassidy and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang in their attack on Abilene, Texas, to rob a bank--which, in reality, never happened either. But even if there weren't the overabundance of historical inaccuracies in this film, it still wouldn't be very good. It's a very low-budget affair and its cheapness shows in every frame, from the cardboard sets to the poorly lit and badly photographed exterior scenes. The action scenes are few and far between and not done very well when they do occur; the setpiece near the end, when the bandits attack the town, is predictable, poorly staged and about as exciting as watching paint dry. It's got a decent supporting cast-- Morris Ankrum, Buster Crabbe, Malcolm Atterbury, Richard Devon--but star George Montgomery just seems to be going through the motions and Neville Brand is sorely miscast as head bad guy Butch Cassidy. Fred F. Sears was a mediocre director at best, and he doesn't rise above his reputation with this film.
The "novelty" of having a group of real-life figures working together may be enough of a reason to watch this dull, listless oater for some people, but that's pretty much all--if anything--it has going for it.
The "novelty" of having a group of real-life figures working together may be enough of a reason to watch this dull, listless oater for some people, but that's pretty much all--if anything--it has going for it.
Put Away the History Books Folks!
bsmith55525 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Badman's Country" is a cheaply produced little B&W "B" western that boasts several legendary lawmen of the old west.
First we have Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) who is being hounded by friends of Billy the Kid whom he has killed. Next is Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe), Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) and a sickly looking Buffalo Bill (Malcolm Atterbury).
Heading up the bad guys are, wait for it, Butch Cassidy (Neville Brand( and the Sundance Kid (Russell Johnson). Each has a large gang in tow. Garrett is heading to Abelene to wed the lovely Lorna Pardee (Karen Booth). Riding with Garrett is Lorna's brother Roy (William Bryant) who is wounded by an unseen bushwacker.
The main plot as such, has a larger cash shipment of $500K being shipped to Abelene on behalf of cattle buyers who await the large herds (neither of which are shown). Sundance knows how to get the money but needs the help of Cassidy and his large gang to pull it off.
Sundance and four of his gang ride into town to case the setup. They get into a gunfight with Garrett, two are killed and Sundance and the others are jailed. Garrett sends for Earp and Masterson to take the prisoners to trial in Dodge City. Before they can leave, Cassidy and his gang arrive on the scene.
Garrett creates a diversion by sending a wire stating that the funds are already in the local bank. This will hopefully draw Cassidy and his gang into a planned ambush. Preparations are made, the Hole in the Wall gang ride into town and................................
If you can forget that none of the fabled lawmen ever worked together as such or faced Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, this is a serviceable western. There's plenty of gunplay together with an exciting climatic gun battle and a little romance to boot. Montgomery does his best as the main hero. Crabbe and Walcott make believable second line heroes. Brand as always, is better than his material as Cassidy. Russell (Lefty) Johnson who is best remembered for his role on TV's "Gilligan"s Island", makes a nasty Sundance.
Karen Booth is merely along as window dressing, Others in the cast include Morris Ankrum as the mayor, Dan Riss as the town marshal and Fred Graham as Black Jack Ketchum. In the rather large gangs (for a "B") there is hardly anyone recognizable.
First we have Pat Garrett (George Montgomery) who is being hounded by friends of Billy the Kid whom he has killed. Next is Wyatt Earp (Buster Crabbe), Bat Masterson (Gregory Walcott) and a sickly looking Buffalo Bill (Malcolm Atterbury).
Heading up the bad guys are, wait for it, Butch Cassidy (Neville Brand( and the Sundance Kid (Russell Johnson). Each has a large gang in tow. Garrett is heading to Abelene to wed the lovely Lorna Pardee (Karen Booth). Riding with Garrett is Lorna's brother Roy (William Bryant) who is wounded by an unseen bushwacker.
The main plot as such, has a larger cash shipment of $500K being shipped to Abelene on behalf of cattle buyers who await the large herds (neither of which are shown). Sundance knows how to get the money but needs the help of Cassidy and his large gang to pull it off.
Sundance and four of his gang ride into town to case the setup. They get into a gunfight with Garrett, two are killed and Sundance and the others are jailed. Garrett sends for Earp and Masterson to take the prisoners to trial in Dodge City. Before they can leave, Cassidy and his gang arrive on the scene.
Garrett creates a diversion by sending a wire stating that the funds are already in the local bank. This will hopefully draw Cassidy and his gang into a planned ambush. Preparations are made, the Hole in the Wall gang ride into town and................................
If you can forget that none of the fabled lawmen ever worked together as such or faced Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, this is a serviceable western. There's plenty of gunplay together with an exciting climatic gun battle and a little romance to boot. Montgomery does his best as the main hero. Crabbe and Walcott make believable second line heroes. Brand as always, is better than his material as Cassidy. Russell (Lefty) Johnson who is best remembered for his role on TV's "Gilligan"s Island", makes a nasty Sundance.
Karen Booth is merely along as window dressing, Others in the cast include Morris Ankrum as the mayor, Dan Riss as the town marshal and Fred Graham as Black Jack Ketchum. In the rather large gangs (for a "B") there is hardly anyone recognizable.
Lots of law for Abilene
bkoganbing7 April 2019
Pat Garrett gets shot at while going to Abilene. He's a bit out of his stomping grounds in New Mexico territory. But he's marrying a girl from Abilene., Karin
Booth. George Montgomery plays Garrett and he's giving up law enforcement
and settling down.
But when some of Butch Cassidy's and the Sundance Kid's Hole In The Wall gang are spotted around town Montgomery knows something is up. Coming to help are Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson played by Buster Crabbe and Gregory Walcott in from Dodge City. Not only them but Buffalo Bill Cody (Malcolm Atterbury) is on the scene also.
Neville Brand and Russell Johnson are Butch and Sundance. Montgomery and his team want to stand up to the gang. They have to deal with Morris Ankrum the mayor who just wants them all to go away.
A nicely staged shootout is the climax of this B western.
Ironic though because for a while Abilene had Wild Bill Hickok as its marshal.
But when some of Butch Cassidy's and the Sundance Kid's Hole In The Wall gang are spotted around town Montgomery knows something is up. Coming to help are Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson played by Buster Crabbe and Gregory Walcott in from Dodge City. Not only them but Buffalo Bill Cody (Malcolm Atterbury) is on the scene also.
Neville Brand and Russell Johnson are Butch and Sundance. Montgomery and his team want to stand up to the gang. They have to deal with Morris Ankrum the mayor who just wants them all to go away.
A nicely staged shootout is the climax of this B western.
Ironic though because for a while Abilene had Wild Bill Hickok as its marshal.
Shear desperation.
mark.waltz19 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"Let's see. How do we get the kiddies into the theater on a Saturday morning?" I can just see someone at Warner Brother's B unit deciding to get all of the great outlaws and lawmakers from the old west together, just like Universal had done with Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolfman. A cast led by George Montgomery, Neville Brand, Buster Crabbe and Karin Booth get together in a story surrounding money being shipped by train and a bunch of lawbreakers (some of whom never met) attempting to rob it while the lawmakers (ditto) find out about it and try to stop it.
So we've got Butch and Sundance (Brand and Russell "Professor" Johnson) along with Blackjack Ketchum (Fred Graham) on the side of the criminals with George Montgomery as Pat Garrett, Buster Crabbe as Wyatt Earp and Malcolm Atterbury as Buffalo Bill on the side of the law.
Cheaply made, this easily could have been part of a TV anthology episode, as with big color westerns popular in the theaters, this looks like something that would have been part of a double bill a decade before. Western fans will find things to enjoy about this fable, but authenticates will find it trite and predictable.
So we've got Butch and Sundance (Brand and Russell "Professor" Johnson) along with Blackjack Ketchum (Fred Graham) on the side of the criminals with George Montgomery as Pat Garrett, Buster Crabbe as Wyatt Earp and Malcolm Atterbury as Buffalo Bill on the side of the law.
Cheaply made, this easily could have been part of a TV anthology episode, as with big color westerns popular in the theaters, this looks like something that would have been part of a double bill a decade before. Western fans will find things to enjoy about this fable, but authenticates will find it trite and predictable.
Only Billy the Kid, Jesse James and Dracula's daughter are missing...
searchanddestroy-112 June 2023
And also Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, Calamity Jane and Belle Starr should be there ha ha ha ...I don't know if we are supposed to laugh in front of such idiocy. However, I know that many westerns were like this one, using so many legends of the West to write improbable and stupid stories. Wyatt Earp never met Butch Cassidy nor Wild Biill Hickock. But Bat masterson, I think yes, although. But try to forget to this nonsense and try to appreciate this little western made by the ambitionless Fred S Sears. It is after all fun to watch and easy to bear and if you are a petty Fred Sears - not fan, I hope for you - follower, you can try it. Neville Brand, George Montgomery, Buster Crabbe; forget the idiocy.
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